Ebrahim Patelia

Ebrahim is a director of the dispute resolution agency Mediate Works (PTY) Ltd, practicing attorney and legal consultant at the law firm Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyer (CDH). Ebrahim is a highly experienced third-party dispute resolution practitioner, trainer, and advisor. He is extensively used in complex and high risks matters. While he specializes in employment matters, he has done work in a range of commercial, community, property and socio-political matters. He is based in South Africa, where he performs most of his work, and has worked in several countries in Africa, Asia, Middle East, and Europe. Ebrahim is an active member of the faculty of the International Labour Organization International Training Centre (ILOITC); University of the Witwatersrand Mandela Institute; and Conflict Dynamics where he is a lead trainer, coach and assessor on the CEDR affiliated commercial mediator course in South Africa. He is a member of the South African Law Reform Commission advisory committee tasked with the responsibility of making recommendations for the adoption of a generic mediation statute.

 

He graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in 1995 and was admitted as an attorney in 1997 after completing his practical training and board exams. Ebrahim was trained by the Independent Mediation Services of South Africa (IMSSA) as a mediator and arbitrator (1998) and has actively worked in this area since then. Ebrahim has successfully completed training in Diversity and Inclusion (1999), 'learning by doing' methodology of facilitated training (2000), Relationship Building by Objectives Facilitation (2000), Peace Building in Socio-Political and Community Disputes (2006), CEDR (UK) Commercial Mediator (2007), Medical Negligence Mediation (2014) and Environment Social and Governance (ESG) Mediation (2023).

 

Ebrahim has co-authored the first and second addition of “Appropriate Dispute Resolution, A Practical Guide to Negotiation, Mediation and Arbitration” which is published by Lexis Nexis. The third edition of the book will be released in 2025. Ebrahim is a sought-after speaker and has presented at several conferences and workshops worldwide. He has authored a number of articles in various publications.